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“If you like cosy mysteries, you will fall in love with this one.” (Els Ebraert – b for book review.)
Simon Mountjoy is the local boy made good. Returning to Coombesford after making his fortune in London, he spends thirteen years renovating his family home. He brings employment and prosperity to the village; but he also has a talent for upsetting people. Lots of people have reason to hate Simon; but who hates him enough to leave him dead at the bottom of the waterfall?
Charlie Jones gives up chasing villains and moves her family to Coombesford in Devon. But there are villains in Devon too!
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A B –
Page turner.
This is an excellent cozy mystery. Elizabeth Ducie grabbed and held onto my attention. At the end of each chapter I thought, “well I can’t stop now, I have to keep reading.” Wonderfully executed.
Carol A –
Murder and Mayhem in the village.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced whodunit. I was hooked from the beginning and drawn into this small-town world of characters. I felt I knew some of them! Add to that a victim everyone loves to hate, and you find a village where anyone could have committed the murder. With just enough breadcrumbs to mislead, it was fun to join Charlie and Annie as they figured it out. A very entertaining read and I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
P.M. –
A page turner.
This one surprised me. I never guessed the correct “who done it”. The author kept it interesting throughout and you felt as if the characters were people you knew.
mary –
Come along for a bumpy ride!
An intriguing cast of well-developed characters keeps the reader hooked through the twists and turns of the plot. One of those tales that keeps you on edge.
Kindle Customer –
Fun.
An intriguing cast of well-developed characters keeps the reader hooked through the twists and turns of the plot. One of those tales that keeps you on edge.
MikiHope –
This is kind of a laid back murder mystery. Yes, someone is found dead–but no one else is. Charlie finds the body and the police are notified. The murdered man was not well liked–Somehow the blame was being placed on the chef who worked at their cafe–they had to get involved.
I actually liked this one without all the blood and gore you usually find in murder mysteries! It was a definite change of pace from what I usually read!!
Ike Rose –
Well paced mystery.
I enjoyed the pacing and the presentation of the plot.
I love the main characters. The end was a big surprise.
Dobiejo –
Good read.
It is OK but not typical British mystery, some final resolutions were far fetched. Recommended but do not expect thrills.
Carola MacLean –
Great!
I now have read the three books in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed them. The characters are lovely, the plots clever and we always enjoy Village life and relationships in between. My only regret is that there only three of them. I want more.
Amazon Customer –
A Devonshire Plotted Cozy!
A charming Devonshire village, a cheerful pub, a Sunday Roast, and a murder victim floating in the pool at the bottom of the falls–my favorite kind of cozy mystery!
With its witty dialog, warm and quirky characters, and a quick-paced mystery at its delightful heart, MURDER AT MOUNTJOY MANOR has it all, including a pair of amateur sleuths who help the local constabulary sort through a host of suspects and motives, clues and red herrings, leading us on a merry chase until they finally expose the murderer just moments after I guessed it myself!
Since this is the first book in the Coombesford Chronicles, the next murder in the village of Coombesford can’t happen soon enough!
Queen Bee –
English mysteries.
Very easy and fast reading.kept my interest throughout. I liked how in the Prelude all the characters were mentioned. Gave you an idea who everyone was. Also I love books that have a lot of short chapters. Anyone who likes English mysteries would love this!
Lisa –
Enjoyable read.
Nice plot with a nice flow …not too fast or choppy. This was a light and enjoyable read and I would recommend .
Lisa Lea-Weston –
Should I say joyful…?
Have to say that as a mum and wife to my own Charlie/Annie, I really appreciate finding these wonderful women at the heart of such a “now” conventional genre. A genre that is of an age where such central roles are probably *sadly* still subversive. I love how this is central and they are just getting on with life but find that even in Devon they come across…a murder!! So easy to read. Very um…cosy! Can’t wait to read next one! Also loved the detailed map at the start…of course! Am beginning the next one now.
Amazon Customer –
Intriguing!
I enjoyed this easy but intriguing read. Lots of different relationships/links which got me thinking and second-guessing!
Pam Keevil –
Delightful.
A delightful cosy mystery with just the right amount of interesting characters and a picture perfect village setting to make it a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Amazon Customer –
An interesting whodunnit.
An entertaining read with likeable characters. As I live in Devon and know the Chudleigh area well, this was an added bonus. An interesting whodunnit which I enjoyed.
Elizabeth Hurst –
Great to get back to well written mysteries!
A thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery, which moves at a good pace. I thought the characters were well fleshed out—many of them are truly memorable—and the book was very well put together. I have to say it’s been a while since I read this genre, and I am so glad my interest has been piqued again. I shall certainly be looking forward to more in the series.
Welsh Annie –
Such a well written cosy mystery – thoroughly enjoyed.
Well, if all cosy mysteries are as engaging as this one, maybe I should read them more often – I read it in a single sitting, and enjoyed every moment.
Two elements I always enjoy when reading my usual romances are a strong sense of place and a well-drawn community – and I was delighted to find both in this book. Charlie and her family (and how lovely to meet them again – she was a favourite character in the author’s earlier thrillers) are now running The Falls, a gastropub in the village of Coombesford in the Teign valley. It’s a gorgeous setting, described quite wonderfully in the opening pages – until Charlie stumbles across the body of Simon Mountjoy in the river, the injuries that caused his death caused by rather more than being washed over the weir. And as the police team are called in to begin their investigations, the story moves back to five days earlier and we meet Simon Mountjoy himself, in the midst of filming a documentary about his renovation of the Manor – and we begin to find out there are many people who won’t be shedding tears at his untimely death.
The cast of characters in this book is simply wonderful. At the Manor – vividly described in all its luxury – there’s Simon’s young Ukrainian wife Olga, her personal trainer Nathan, and his faithful executive assistant Hilda Reynolds. And then we get to know the wider community – Roger and Celia who run the cafe and village shop (now facing competition from another on the new estate, financed by Simon Mountjoy), his partner Anthony Farsider (keen to sell their property development business to fund his retirement, but his partner is less enthusiastic), Pauline Wilson (who cares for her mother, is passionate about the environment and her beloved animals, but also holds a grudge that she voices loudly when she’s had her usual few drinks). And I know I shouldn’t have started this, because there are so many people who have reason to be less than upset about Simon’s demise – Charlie’s list of suspects grows ever longer.
I loved the way the story unfolded, as we got to know all the well-drawn characters considerably better – every one of them with a strong back story slowly uncovered, sometimes unexpected, sometimes lessening the likelihood of them being the killer, others moving more firmly up the list of suspects. The whole progress of the investigation is quite wonderfully handled – both with the detective pair who are great characters in their own right, and Charlie and wife Annie who also want to get to the bottom of the mystery. And the final outcome certainly doesn’t disappoint. I think I had every single character in the frame at some point as the author carefully manipulates the reader, dropping clues and red herrings, introducing new bits of back story that change perception – I’d like to say I got there before Charlie and the police team, but I really didn’t.
The overall feel of the book is rather like Midsomer Murders – a programme I always rather enjoy – but with a Devon accent and a vividly drawn location that I really loved. It is a shorter read, and I raced through it – there’s real warmth about the writing, with humour and lightness throughout, and while it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat I never lost the smile on my face. More, please – this really was a book I thoroughly enjoyed.
Suzanne –
This murder mystery forces you to keep on reading.
This is a good, cosy murder mystery, with a panoply of convincing characters, some of whom you don’t particularly like, while you warm to others straight away. In the tradition of Agatha Christie, there are plenty of reasons why people didn’t like the murder victim, Simon Mountjoy.
I can’t claim to have guessed correctly who perpetrated the crime, which is the necessary ingredient to keep you engaged to the end.
It is set in a delightful Devon village which will definitely be worth another visit.
CG –
A fab read with lots of twists.
A very enjoyable easy read. I was keen to get back to it each night as it was my bedtime read, although the plot is fast moving and there’s much to keep you guessing, so I was often turning the light out later than usual. There’s a great cast of engaging characters, and as in the greatest whodunnits, there’s a list of suspects.
I’ve read Elizabeth Ducie’s thriller series and it was nice to meet some old friends from those books. A change of career certainly doesn’t mean life is dull, as they soon find out. I was right there in this little village setting as it’s so well described. A great first chronicle and I hope it’s the first of many. Highly recommended.
Ian Riddle –
First of a new series.
This is a light, enjoyable, afternoon’s read whether that be on a sun lounger or in a chair by a winter’s fire. The story’s engaging and boasts a wide range of fascinating characters, exactly the sort of people you’d expect to meet in almost any rural area. Although there are links to some of the author’s earlier novels it isn’t necessary to have read any of those to enjoy the first of Elizabeth’s new series.
Caroline –
A cross between Miss Marple and Richard Osmand.
I enjoyed this tale of mystery and suspense set in the beautiful Devon countryside that I know so well. It was good to meet Charlie again in a different setting. All Coombesford’s characters come to life with every page and I read the whole book in one sitting. I look forward to the next book in the Coombesford Chronicles from this accomplished author.
Caroline –
Lovely bit of cosy crime.
A cute little whodunnit novella.
This one is set in a fictional location in Devon. I liked that the surrounding area was referenced throughout as I do love reading a book with a location that feels familiar.
️ A light read that was easy to whip through. It is a shame this wasn’t longer – there were lots of great characters and nice plot, with great motive when it all came out. This is the first in a series, but some of these characters won’t be likely to be there for the next one.
I didn’t like the cover Really didn’t like it. I don’t think it does the books cute quirkiness justice and I would never have picked this up based on the cover.
️ There were some really amusing little quirks with the writing that made me snigger. The descriptions of Olga, in particular, were almost parodic at times and I really enjoyed this element!
Hazel –
Sleuthing at its best.
Fast moving story line. A lot of fun in the detail a good read.
Paul K Joyce –
A 21st century murder mystery.
A contemporary ‘cosy’ murder mystery that compels you to read on and find out who did it.
M Adams –
A classic cozy mystery.
My favourite, a lovely English village and an amateur sleuth ( or two! Really enjoyed this and hope to enjoy more.
Ocean lily –
Cute and cosy crime story.
Easy reading, cute English country crime story with lovely characters an engaging country gossip feel.
Claire M –
A great cosy, with intriguing characters and intricate plot!
A murder in the beautiful village of Coombesford is the perfect start to a wonderful cosy. I cannot wait to see what Charlie and Annie find themselves embroiled in next! I highly recommend this read.
Madalyn Morgan – Treaddell –
Good plot. Loved the characters.
I have read several of this author’s novels and I’ve enjoyed everyone of them. This was the first murder mystery and I was gripped. It had a good plot and strong believable characters that I could relate to. I highly recommend Murder at Mountjoy Manor and hope she writes more like it.
Madeleine Fasham –
A classic whodunit.
When the body of a wealthy businessman with non-accidental injuries is discovered, it soon transpires that he was not the popular man he felt himself to be. There are several possible suspects, all with their own motives. Charlie and her friends want to find out more.
The story is fast moving, with short, easy to read chapters. The characters are those you may find in any small town or village, the publicans, the tea shop owners, the environmentalist etc. The book is set in an area of Devon that Ducie obviously knows well, a beautiful area that is being rapidly expanded by housing developments, not always welcome.
A good read for a wet afternoon.
FEE –
A murder mystery set in Devon, in the beautiful South West of England.
A murder mystery set in Devon, in the beautiful South West of England? I could hardly wait to read this and I am glad I did.
My advice is to settle down with a hot cup of something comforting and enjoy every page of this fun, Agatha Christie-esque romp.
There’s a small group of suspects – some more likeable than others – with possible motives, plus plenty of village gossip and jealousies and a likeable female sleuth. Charlie slowly drew me in to her own life story.
This is a lovely addition to one of my favourite genres.
I’m grateful to the author for letting me read an advance copy of the story. This review is my honest opinion.
Jolyon Tuck –
An Easy Read that Packs a Punch!
A proper page turner – I whizzed through this because the characters were so well presented and the storytelling made for a very easy read. To call it light would be a disservice to the plotting, to call it cosy a disservice to the gravity of the crimes. I really enjoyed it, and can’t wait for a return to the village! Highly recommended.
Mr. Stephen F. Male –
A Very Readable Cosy Crime Mystery.
Murder at Mountjoy Manor is a carefully constructed murder mystery in a small Devon Village. Many have a motive to murder the owner of Mountjoy Manor, but who did it? The story is well written and will keep you turning pages until the last one is reached.
If you enjoy Agatha Christie or Midsummer Murders then this is definitely one for you: hit the “Buy Now” button now!
Georgia Rose –
Super start to a cosy mystery series.
I have no idea how I managed to miss the start of this author’s new series but miss it I did. However, I’m making up for it now having immediately bought the first two books.
There’s no hanging around in Murder at Mountjoy Manor. A body is discovered in the prologue and the pace keeps up from there. The writing is tight and, as always with this writer, excellent.
There are plenty of well-written characters to enjoy (and if you’ve read some of her other books you may recognise some) and, naturally, suspects too and although I am not one to try and work out the who-did-it aspect of a mystery it was revealed just at the right time. Plus, there was a lovely little twist right at the end which is always enjoyable.
I also loved the setting of a village for this book, and series. For me it’s recognisable and therefore comfortable but I suspect others who do not live in a village will thoroughly enjoy spending some time there too.
Miss Clarke –
Entertaining.
An entertaining, well-written story with great characters. Fast moving too and with plenty of intrigue. My only gripe is the abrupt ending which raised an unanswered question.
Abigail Yardimci –
Cosy, intriguing and entertaining.
This was a new genre for me so I was curious . . . the outcome was that I really enjoyed it and felt completely immersed in this clever, page-turning story! It was a murder mystery without gore or terror – it was cosy, intriguing and entertaining. I liked the diversity of the characters and the descriptions of the local area, which totally set the scene. I was hooked from beginning to end on storyline, character and plot. I’d definitely read more by this author.